Device for instructing in the kicking of a football or the like



June 27, 1967 LEE ETAL 3,328,030

DEVICE FOR INSTRUCTING IN THE KICKING OF A FOOTBALL OR THE LIKE Filed June :50, 1966 'ATTORNEYH United States Patent 3,328,030 DEVICE FOR INSTRUCTING IN THE KICKING (9F A-FOOTBALL OR THE LIKE Ryals E. Lee, 420 Plantation Road 32303; James E.

Houston, Rte. 4, Box 463 32301; and George M. Norman, 3308 Lake Shore Drive 32303, all of Tallahassee, Fla.

Filed June 30, 1966, Ser. No. 561,796 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) This invention relates to a sound mind in a sound body and particularly to the physical training of youth and somewhat older persons in the kicking of an object such as a football, soccer ball, or the like, and it is an object of the invention to teach or instruct in the necessary fundamentals including the relative positions of the foot and leg during the kicking operation and the relative straight locked position of the ankle so that upon impact of the foot with the football the entire foot will be relatively rigid resulting in greater accuracy and distance as, for example, when kicking a field goal.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one embodiment of the invention in use;

FIG. 2, a diagrammatic view illustrating the various positions of the shoe of the kicker from start to finish of the kicking action;

FIG. 3, a bottom perspective of the shoe and brace;

FIG. 4, a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5, a top perspective of the device removed from the shoe illustrating the strap by which it is attached to the calf of the kicker;

FIG. 6, a perspective of a modified form of brace;

FIG. 7, a perspective of another modified form of brace; and,

FIG. 8, a perspective of a further modified form of brace.

Briefly stated the invention is a generally L-shaped stiffening brace preferably of spring steel or other stiff substance with the shorter right-angular portion of the brace adapted to be disposed along the foot and be fastened to the shoe while the longer portion of the brace extends along the leg toward the knee and is provided with a strap by which the upper extremity of the brace can be fastened securely in contact with the leg. One form of the invention may be with a shorter portion extending beneath and through retaining straps between the cleats on the underside of the sole of the shoe with the longer portion of the brace located at the back of the leg while in the modified form of the invention the brace is located on top of the foot being disposed at the top of the foot and along the front of the leg and having a cap that fits over the toe of the shoe.

With continued reference to the drawing a generally L-shaped brace is provided having a relatively short horizontal portion 10 and an upright portion 11 such brace preferably being composed of spring steel although of relatively light weight. The shorter horizontal portion 10 of the brace is adapted to be disposed beneath the sole 12 of the conventional football shoe 13 having a toe cleat and two additional pairs of cleats 14 under the forward portion of the foot and another pair of cleats 15 beneath the heel 16. Between the forward and heel pairs of cleats are fastened transverse straps 17 with the central portion thereof spaced slightly from the sole of the shoe to allow the insertion thereunder of the shorter portion of the brace with the parts fitting snugly to avoid any relative movement therebetween. At the remote end or top of the longer portion of the brace there is provided a strap 18 with ends detachably connected by hooked-pile fabric and by means of which the upper part of the brace may be securely fastened to the leg so that the relatively stiff brace maintains the leg, ankle and foot relatively stiff during the kicking operation.

Instead of the brace being attached behind the leg and underneath the foot another brace likewise generally L- shaped with a shorter portion 19 and a longer leg portion 20 may be employed the free end of the foot portion likewise being provided with a cap 21 to fit over the toe 22 and a strap 23 fastened to the upper free end of the longer leg portion to the front of the leg.

With each of the embodiments of the present invention the leg, ankle and foot will be held relatively rigid to allow the maximum force to be applied in the proper direction and at the proper location against the football or the like.

It will be apparent that in the proper kicking position the foot with the shoe thereon will be straight relative to the leg, or in other words, the center of the toe, heel and leg will be located in a single plane and the present invention locks them in such relation.

FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose modified forms of the device designed for punting. In FIG. 7 the parts are substantially the same as the device of FIG. 5 except that the horizontal position 10 is at an angle of substantially so that when applied the toe will be extended downwardly with the instep highly arched upwardly for contact with the ball when punting. In FIG. 8 the horizontal portion 10' is upwardly arched instead of being straight as in FIG. 5 and instead of a tall upright rear portion it has a short rear portion 11' and a yoke 24 of a configuration to fit snugly about the heel of the shoe. Thus the device of the present invention contemplates usefulness in instruction and in goal kicking and punting.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a football shoe, at least two pairs of cleats mounted on the bottom of said shoe, brace securing means mounted on each of said pair of cleats, a brace of relatively lightweight stiff material having a first portion for disposition lengthwise of said shoe and having means for releasable attachment of said first portion to said brace securing means in such position, and having a second portion joined to the end of the first and forming a continuation for extending upwardly therefrom, and having means for securing said second portion firmly in place and in the area of a plane passing through the center of the foot and serving to maintain the foot and ankle in fixed position during the kicking of a football.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means whereby said brace may be, selectively, applied and secured in fixed relation to the shoe and leg of the wearer and disengaged from said shoe and leg.

3. In combination, a football shoe, at least one brace securing means mounted on the bottom of said shoe, a brace of relatively lightweight stiff material having a first portion for disposition lengthwise of said shoe and having means for releasable attachment of said first portion to said brace securing means in such position, and having a second portion joined to the end of the first and forming a continuation for extending upwardly therefrom, and having means for securing said second portion firmly in place and in the area of a plane passing through the center of the foot and serving to maintain the foot and ankle in fixed position during the kicking of a football.

4. In combination, a football shoe, at least one brace securing means mounted on the bottom of said shoe, a

brace of relatively lightweight stifi material having a first portion for dispositionlengthwise of said shoe and having means for attachment of said first portion to said brace securing means in such position, and having a second portion joined to the end of the first and forming a continuation for extending upwardly therefrom, and having means for securing said second portion firmly in place and in the area of a plane passing through the center of the foot and serving to maintain the foot and ankle in fixed position during the kicking of a football.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,757 4/1929 FreileWeh. 3,036,831 5/1962 Engan 273-189 X 3,063,718 11/1962 Steinkamp 273-55 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, R. J. APLEY,

Assistant Examiners. 

4. IN COMBINATION, A FOOTBALL SHOE, AT LEAST ON BRACE SECURING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID SHOE, A BRACE OF RELATIVELY LIGHTWEIGHT STIFF MATERIAL HAVING A FIRST PORTION FOR DISPOSITION LENGTHWISE OF SAID SHOE AND HAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT OF SAID FIRST PORTION TO SAID BRACE SECURING MEANS IN SUCH POSITION, AND HAVING A SECOND PORTION JOINED TO THE END OF THE FIRST AND FORMING A CONTINUATION FOR EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, AND HAVING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SECOND PORTION FIRMLY IN PLACE AND IN THE AREA OF A PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE FOOT AND SERVING TO MAINTAINING THE FOOT AND ANKLE IN FIXED POSITION DURING THE KICKING OF A FOOTBALL. 